[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 35546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14627]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Findings of Research Misconduct

AGENCY:  Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY:  Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity 
(ORI) has taken final action in the following case:
    Melanie Cokonis, Southern Research Institute: Based on the report 
of an investigation conducted by Southern Research Institute (SRI) and 
additional analysis conducted by ORI in its oversight review, ORI found 
that Ms. Melanie Cokonis, former Research Technician, SRI, engaged in 
research misconduct in research supported by National Institute of 
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health 
(NIH), contracts N01-AI-30047 (HHSN2722011000009C) and N01-AI-70042 
(HHSN272200700042C), and National Human Genome Research Institute 
(NHGRI), NIH, grant U54 HG005034.
    ORI found that the Respondent engaged in research misconduct by 
falsifying assay data that were submitted in reports to NIH. 
Specifically, ORI found that Respondent knowingly falsified data for 
cytoprotection assays with antiviral compounds and provided the false 
data for inclusion in reports submitted to NIH for contracts N01-AI-
30047 and N01-AI-70042 and grant U54 HG005034. Respondent transferred 
raw data from 8X12 SoftmaxPro matrix files into spreadsheets and then 
falsified the numbers for cell control, virus control, drug 
cytotoxicity, drug only, and/or cells+ virus+ drug wells to make 206 
assays appear to have been successfully performed when they were not.
    Ms. Cokonis has voluntarily agreed for a period of three (3) years, 
beginning on May 29, 2014:
    (1) To exclude herself from any contracting or subcontracting with 
any agency of the United States Government and from eligibility or 
involvement in nonprocurement programs of the United States Government 
referred to as ``covered transactions'' pursuant to HHS' Implementation 
(2 CFR part 376 et seq) of OMB Guidelines to Agencies on Governmentwide 
Debarment and Suspension, 2 CFR part 180 (collectively the ``Debarment 
Regulations''); and
    (2) To exclude herself voluntarily from serving in any advisory 
capacity to PHS including, but not limited to, service on any PHS 
advisory committee, board, and/or peer review committee, or as a 
consultant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Acting Director, Office of Research 
Integrity, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 750, Rockville, MD 20852, (240) 
453-8800.

Donald Wright,
Acting Director, Office of Research Integrity.
[FR Doc. 2014-14627 Filed 6-20-14; 8:45 am]
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